NEW IMMIGRANTS AND CITY LIFE AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY Ms. Bragman/Mrs. Herth December 4, 2012 Aim: Why did so many people leave Europe and Latin America and settle in the U.S. in the early 1900’s? Do Now: REVIEW- What is one example of a PUSH factor? PULL factor?

Map on Immigration  us/ immigration-explorer.html us/ immigration-explorer.html  Where did most immigrants in 1900’s come from?  Where are most immigrants from today?  How did immigration patterns change?

What is immigration? History of Immigration in the U.S.

New Immigrants  By the early 1900’s the majority of immigrants were coming to the U.S. from Southern and Eastern Europe.  Push Factors – conditions that drive people from their homes  Scarce land  Farm jobs lost to new machines  Political and religious persecution (ex: pogroms)  Revolution  Poverty and hard lives  Pull Factors – conditions that attract immigrants to a new area  Promise of freedom  Family or friends already settled in the U.S.  Factory jobs available

How they traveled and where they landed  The voyage across the Atlantic was terrible  Most immigrants came over in steerage – rooms below deck Disease spread rapidly  On the east coast of America – immigrants were greeted by the Statue of Liberty  It became a symbol of hope and freedom  Immigrants had to pass through Ellis Island  On the west coast – many Asian immigrants were entering the U.S. through Angel Island in San Francisco Bay

“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” What is the meaning behind this poem?

old culture vs. new culture  Large American cities became patchworks of Italian, Greek, Polish, Jewish, and Chinese neighborhoods.  Newcomers were torn between old traditions and American ways  The first generation became acculturated – the process of holding onto old traditions while adapting to a new culture.  they spoke their own language, celebrated special holidays, and prepared foods as in the old country.  Their children assimilated themselves into American society (to become part of another culture)  Learned to speak English, wore American style clothing

Who were the Nativists?  Nativists were people who sought to limit immigration and preserve the country for native-born white Protestants  They were against new immigrants because they were too different and they were taking jobs  On the West Coast, as the number of Chinese immigrants grew - so did nativist pressure.  Congress responded by passing the Chinese Exclusion Act in  It did not allow any other Chinese people to enter the U.S. and anyone who left could not return

 By 1890, one in three Americans lived in cities  Cities provided jobs, chance of a better life, and escape from persecution  Space was limited so tenement buildings were built in the city center to hold more people  Contained small apartments with no windows, heat, or indoor bathrooms  Disease was common in the tenements (tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid fever) Urbanization

 By the 1880’s reformers pressured the government for change  Building codes set standards for construction and safety New buildings needed fire escapes and decent plumbing Street sweepers and garbage collectors were hired Zoning laws kept factories out of neighborhoods  Religious groups worked to help the poor  Mother Cabrini, a Catholic nun, helped found dozens of hospitals for the poor  Salvation Army offered food and shelter to the poor Solving City Problems

 Community centers that offered services to the poor  A woman from Chicago named Jane Addams became a leader in the movement  She opened the Hull House in 1889 and soon other women joined her and they dedicated their lives to service and sacrifice  They provided classes in American government, the English language, and health care  they provided day care and recreational activities as well Settlement Houses